UK Users Dodge Age Verification with Death Stranding Hack

Gamers exploit Death Stranding to bypass new UK age verification checks.

UK Users Evade Age Verification with Video Game Hack

In the UK, players of the video game Death Stranding have employed an unexpected method to circumvent mandatory age verification systems imposed by law. Following the enactment of the Online Safety Act, which aims to protect minors from harmful online content, users have found they can use the game's photo mode to trick verification platforms. In a notable case, a user named Dany Sterkhov demonstrated this by scanning the face of the game’s protagonist to trick Discord's age check system. Following this revelation, outlets like The Verge confirmed Sterkhov's findings by replicating the hack. Discord’s method uses a service called k-ID, which was easily bypassed using the game. While ProtonVPN reported a significant surge in sign-ups, many users seek to avoid age checks like these altogether, prompting discussions about the effectiveness of current measures.

This situation highlights a significant flaw in the approach to online safety laws. As tech firms rush to comply with new regulations, the reliance on third-party age verification systems can leave significant loopholes. The entertaining yet concerning hack reveals not just the creativity of gamers but also the potential dangers of ineffective regulations meant to protect vulnerable users. It brings to light the need for more robust solutions that can actually safeguard children online without being easily bypassed. With growing concerns around data privacy and user safety, this incident may provoke further scrutiny on how companies implement such critical systems.

Highlights

The ongoing challenges highlight the importance of adapting regulations to keep pace with technology.